The U.S. Forest Service effective immediately has rescinded all fire restrictions on the Thunder Basin National Grassland and the Laramie Peak Portion of the Medicine Bow National Forest, according to a news release Friday.

The Forest Service decided to ease the restrictions because of the reduction in human-caused risk, increased fuel moisture, and favorable long-term fire weather forecasts.

Even so, the Forest Service advises those who use the forests to use caution when building and maintaining campfires. Put campfires dead out before leaving a campsite or going to sleep.

The Forest Service also recommends these fire safety tips for campers and other users of public lands:

  • Scrape back dead grass and forest materials from your campfire site.
  • Keep your campfire small and under control; make it only as big as you need it.
  • Keep a shovel and a water container nearby to douse escaped embers.
  • Do not park vehicles in tall dry grass, since hot tailpipes can cause fine fuels to catch on fire.
  • Remember that any ignition – cigarettes, campfires, gunfire, vehicles – could be the cause of a wildland fire, as grass and other vegetation is dry and extremely flammable.
  • Always follow current fire restrictions.
  • Fireworks are not allowed on federal lands.

To report a wildland fire on the Medicine Bow National Forest or the Thunder Basin National Grassland, call the Casper Interagency Dispatch Center at (307) 261-7691.

For more information contact the Douglas Ranger District Office at its website or call (307) 358-4690. The office is at 2250 E. Richards St., Douglas.

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